Keyboard Advice Please, new to the world of piano and midi Options

[seanb]

Hello everyone.

I would like to learn how to play the piano, and I'm interested in getting a midi keyboard/controller. I was initially looking at the MAudio Keystation 49e, but I ended up talking myself out of it after reading about weighted hammer action keys vs. velocity sensitive synth style keys. I don't want to spend a lot of money, in fact I'd like to stay below $250, so I bet weighted keys are out of the question anyway...

I'm lost and would really appreciate some advice on which keyboard to get.

I'm in college, so I'm naturally short on cash. Like I said, I don't want to spend more than $250. The cheaper the better, but I don't want a super cheesy keyboard either. Used would be just fine, any places online I should look other than eBay?

I would like full-size keys. How big are the keys on the MAudio Radium 61? Are they acceptable?

Should I really worry about the feel of the keys at this level? I'm a total beginner, is learning on a synth-style midi controller going to screw me over when I try playing on a real piano? I definitely want a midi controller, so I can use it with GarageBand and other, more powerful apps down the road. I don't care if the keyboard has built in sound creation abilities at all, because I'll probably always have it hooked up to my powerbook anyway.

Sorry for all the questions. I've spent several hours reading up on keyboard reviews, etc. and I'm just going in circles. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

[rcase]

seanb,

I'll just pass on to you what every piano teacher I ever studied with told me: learn on the instrument you will be playing on. In other words, yes, if you spend all your practice time on a keyboard with a 'synth' feel (my personal pref, but then I'm a sucky pianist), you're going to get thrown off balance when you go to play the same material on the real thing. If you can find an affordable weighted, get it. I use a semi-weighted 76-key Fatar/Studiologic in the studio that I got for between 200-300 on eBay a few years back; maybe something like that would be an option for you. Again, if I was a 'real' pianist, I'd probably want something 'better'. As I'm not (and my fingers are weak!), this works fine. Good Luck to you in your studies.

[boze]

another thing:
if ordering online, don't be fooled by the term 'semi-weighted keys'. go to the store and feel the difference- a cheap Fatar with weighted keys feels like a proper piano, but semi-weighted is only about 10% different than a regular casio toy-for-a-child type synth.

i don't even play piano and i'd still like a big heavy fatar to keep at home because it feels more real to me- they don't start at $250 though. $400us last i checked. Fatar makes the cheapest weighted kbds i think though and they're well respected.

[seanb]

Thanks for the help guys. I'm tempted to buy a cheapo board now, but I think I'll wait until I get back from Russia this summer and have a little more money. Is there a particular Fatar weighted-key contoller I should look for on the used market?